Uncle Wes Helms is an invaluable player on the Marlins because of his leadership skills. He’s the one who called a post-game meeting last night after a 7-1 loss to tell teammates to play with more intensity.

Helms was pointing the finger at himself, too. He has been struggling with the bat since taking over most of the duties at third base.
Since Jorge Cantu was traded July 29, Helms is 6-for-43 (.139). His batting average has dropped over that period from .252 to .224.

Helms has gotten the majority of starts at third base, ahead of Donnie Murphy and Hector Luna.

LEFTY GETS TANKED
Left-hander Taylor Tankersely has been extremely effective against left-handed hitters this year, holding them to a .200 (6-for-30) batting average.

But he gave up two hits last night to the only two lefty hitters he faced after he relieved Chris Volstad with the bases loaded.

“The worst part about yesterday is that I cashed in Vollie’s runs,” he said. “Giving up hits, getting beat, that (stinks) but I hate more than anything cashing in somebody else’s runs.”

LO-MO ROLLING
Rookie Mike Stanton has gotten much of the spotlight lately, and deservedly so. But Logan Morrison hasn’t been too shabby at all.

Through his first 18 Major League games, Morrison has posted a .292 average (21×72) with six doubles and six RBI. He has hit in eight consecutive contests, batting .379 (11×29) over the streak to raise his average from .233 on August 6.

CLEMENTE ENCORE
Manager Edwin Rodriguez enjoyed his tour this morning of the Roberto Clemente Museum so much that he’s going to try to return on Wednesday night. Rodriguez was invited back to attend a fund-raiser, which he’ll try to attend if the game doesn’t go too late.

“We spent almost two hours there. It was amazing, a great experience,” said Rodriguez, who went with third-base coach Joe Espada, bullpen coach Reid Cornelius and media-relations manager Marty Sewell.

“They had his 1967 contract. Personal letters. His cleats, game-shoes. They had the last jersey he wore for his San Juan team in Puerto Rico. A lot of pictures with old players, players I know.”

Rodriguez and Espada were born in Puerto Rico.

Edwin said he was told that other major leaguers visit the Clemente museum during stops in Pittsburgh — from Ozzie Guillen to Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez.

Visting the museum, Rodriguez said, “made me realize more than before how great he was. And his influence was beyond baseball, way beyond sports.”